ORDINANCE No. 1 of 1844.
Slavery.
No. 1 of 1844.
An Ordinance to define the law relating to slavery in Hongkong.
[28th February, 1844.]
WHEREAS it is expedient to define and promulgate the law respecting slavery in the Colony of Hongkong.
1. Be it therefore enacted and declared by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, that the laws of England prohibitory of slavery, together with the punishments and penalties provided therein, shall be in full virtue and operation and shall be duly enforced and inflicted in the said Colony, save as hereinafter excepted.
2. And be it enacted, that every one whatsoever using or treating, or attempting to use or treat, any person as a slave in Hongkong, shall upon conviction thereof before the Chief Magistrate of Police of Hongkong, or before such Court of Justice as may hereafter be established in Hongkong, be liable to be imprisoned for any period not exceeding two years, with or without hard labour and corporal punishment, and shall forfeit to Her Majesty Her Heirs and Successors, for the public uses of the said Colony of Hongkong, such sum not exceeding five hundred dollars for each offence, and also such other additional sum not exceeding two hundred dollars to be paid to any person giving information of the said offence, as shall be adjudged by the said Chief Magistrate or Court aforesaid.
3. And be it enacted that if any person, not being a subject of Her Majesty, shall come within the precincts of the Colony of Hongkong, bringing with him any person previously a slave, and shall not forthwith on being lawfully requested, or within ten days after his arrival as aforesaid (whether thereto being required or not) convey such previous slave before the Chief Magistrate of Police at Hongkong, or before the nearest Justice of the Peace, such person shall, on being convicted thereof as aforesaid, be liable to be imprisoned for any period not exceeding six months, with or without hard labour and corporal punishment, and shall forfeit to Her Majesty Her Heirs and Successors, for the public uses of the Colony, such sum not exceeding one hundred dollars for each offence, and also such additional sum not exceeding fifty dollars, to be paid to the person giving information of the said offence, as shall be adjudged as aforesaid.
4. And be it enacted, on any such previous slave being produced before such Magistrate as aforesaid, that it shall be explained to him, apart from his former owner, that slavery is prohibited in the Colony of Hongkong, and that he is free to depart whithersoever he pleases, and such Magistrate as aforesaid shall take due care that such liberty is freely exercised.
5. And be it enacted in case of any such previous slave expressing a wish to remain with his former owner, that such owner shall, together with two approved sureties, resident householders in Hongkong aforesaid, enter into a bond to Her Majesty...
Title.
Preamble.
1 Laws of England prohibitory of slavery to be in force at Hongkong.
Liabilities incurred by every one treating any person as a slave in Hongkong.
Liabilities incurred by foreigners coming to Hongkong with slaves and not conveying them before Chief or other Magistrate.
Slave produced before Magistrate to be set free.
Owner of slave retaining slave in his service to enter into a bond with sureties
ORDINANCE No. 1 of 1844.
Slavery.
No. 1 of 1844.
An Ordinance to define the law relating to slavery in Hongkong.
W
Title.
[28th February, 1844.]
HEREAS it is expedient to define and promulgate the law respecting slavery
in the Colony of Hongkong.
1. Be it therefore enacted and declared by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, that the laws of England prohibitory of slavery, together with the punishments and penalties provided therein, shall be in full virtue and operation and shall be duly enforced and inflicted in the said Colony, safe as hereinafter excepted.
2. And be it enacted, that every one whatsoever using or treating, or attempting to use or treat, any person as a slave in Hongkong, shall upon conviction thereof before the Chief Magistrate of Police of Hongkong, or before such Court of Justice as may hereafter be established in Hongkong, be liable to be imprisoned for
any period not exceeding two years, with or without hard labour and corporal punishment, and shall forfeit to Her Majesty Her Heirs and Successors, for the public uses of the said Colony of Hongkong, such sum not exceeding five hundred dollars for each offence,
*
and also such other additional sum not exceeding two hundred dollars to be paid to any person giving information of the said offence, as shall be adjudged by the said Chief Magistrate or Court aforesaid.
3. And be it enacted that if any person, not being a subject of Her Majesty, shall come within the precincts of the Colony of Hongkong, bringing with him any person previously a slave, and shall not forthwith on being lawfully requested, or within ten days after his arrival as aforesaid (whether thereto being required or not) convey such previous slave before the Chief Magistrate of Police at Hongkong, or before the nearest Justice of the Peace, such person shall, on being convicted thereof as aforesaid, be liable to be imprisoned for any period not exceeding six months, with or without hard labour and corporal punishment, and shall forfeit to Her Majesty Her Heirs and Successors, for the public uses of the Colony, such sum not exceeding one such additional sum not exceeding fifty hundred dollars for each offence, and also dollars, to be paid to the person giving information of the said offence, as shall be adjudged as aforesaid.
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4. And be it enacted, on any such previous slave being produced before such Magistrate as aforesaid, that it shall be explained to him, apart from his former owner, that slavery is prohibited in the Colony of Hongkong, and that he is free to depart whithersoever he pleases, and such Magistrate as aforesaid shall take due care that such liberty is freely exercised.
5. And be it enacted in case of any such previous slave expressing a wish to remain with his former owner, that such owner shall, together with two approved sureties, resident householders in Hongkong aforesaid, enter into a bond to Her
Preamble.
1
Laws of England prohibitory
of slavery to be in force at Hong→ kong.
Liabilities incur- red by every one treating any person as a slave in Hongkong.
Liabilities incur- red by foreigners coming to Hong- kong with slaves and not convey- Ing them before Chief or other Magistrate.
Slave produced before Magis- trate to be set
free.
Owner of slave retaining slave in his service to enter into a bond with sureties
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